Green Karachi: Supreme Court asks KMC to keep the city clean

Court wants the administrator to submit detailed report of resources

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's (KMC) administrator to submit a detailed report on the state of cleanliness in the city and the availability of resources to ensure the city stays clean.

Sources in the judiciary told The Express Tribune that these orders were issued by the SC's Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany during a meeting with the KMC administrator regarding the state of cleanliness in the metropolis. The meeting was held at the SC's Karachi Registry on Friday.

According to sources, KMC Administrator Saqib Ahmed Soomro told the apex court judge that the corporation was facing difficulties in maintaining hygiene levels in the city due to a lack of resources and funds. Soomro said that the local administration had no adequate funds to give salaries to their employees. He added that they did not have machinery to lift garbage in the city.

Sources claimed that this earned the administration nothing but the apex court's ire.

They said that the judge expressed extreme displeasure over the conduct of the high-ranking officer for making such excuses instead of discharging duties and delivering services - the prime duty of the city administration's chief.

They added that Justice Osmany had directed the administration to launch a cleanliness drive for removing garbage from all over the city.

The administrator was also ordered the administrator to submit a report on compliance of the court's directives. In addition to this, he will also inform the court in writing about availability of the resources required for cleaning the city.

The meeting was also attended by deputy commissioners of all districts of the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2015.